Residents Blast Idea For Wall

Residents of Broward Estates and other developments east of Plantation on Monday criticized the city`s plan to build a wall between homes and businesses on State Road 7.

About 200 residents at a meeting on Monday night at Parkway Middle School told Plantation officials they oppose the proposed wall enclosing some of the streets from State Road 7 to their community, which is north of Broward Boulevard.

``You can put a wall around Plantation a mile high, but don`t fence us in,`` Harold Pearson said.

Lipton McKenzie, president of the Broward Estates Civic Association, said residents oppose the wall because it would create an objectionable image and could cause traffic problems if the wall closes off some roads.

``The people told us in the strongest terms that exists that they do not want the wall, `` said McKenzie.

The proposed wall is part of Plantation`s Gateway 7 project, which is aimed at enhancing business along State Road 7 and reducing crime.

The 8-foot walls, planned for both east and west of State Road 7, are an attempt to help reduce crime by cutting off criminals` escape routes into the residential communities, said council member Edd Weiner.

The walls would leave some roads open, but close off others. Weiner said constructing a wall between business districts and homes is common throughout Broward. He denied suggestions that the wall was an attempt to separate the predominantly black Broward Estates area from Plantation.

To annex the land, which is in unincorporated Broward, the city would need the approval of the Broward County Commission.